Belize Introduces Criminal Record Expungement Services

The government has launched a new initiative aimed at offering second chances to individuals burdened by past criminal convictions. The Ministry of Human Development, Families, and Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs, in collaboration with the Ministry of Home Affairs and New Growth Industries and the Attorney General’s Ministry, announced the introduction of Criminal Record Expungement Services.

The service comes following the enactment of the Criminal Records (Rehabilitation of Offenders) Act 2024, which allows individuals to apply for the removal of past convictions from their records. The initiative is part of Belize’s broader criminal justice reform, designed to help individuals overcome barriers in their personal and professional lives caused by prior offences.

To manage the process, the government has established a Criminal Records Board, which will review and either approve or deny expungement applications. Application forms are available nationwide at Ministry of Human Development and Ministry of Home Affairs offices, as well as on the Ministry of Home Affairs’ website.